Electrically driven music box



United States Patent 2,770,996 ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN MUSIC BOX Barbara A. Brodie, Las Cruces, N. Mex.

Application March 19, 1954, Serial No. 417,248

1 Claim. (CI. 84-95) This invention relates to an electrically driven music box, and more particularly to a music box which is electrically operated so as to have continuous operation without the necessity of manual effort for resetting the device.

An object of this invention is to provide an electrically driven music box wherein the tone of the music will be the same at all times.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrically driven music box wherein the operation of the music box is effected by the insertion or removal of a plug into a wall receptacle.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electrically driven music box which is simple and eflicient in construction, and durable and lasting in use.

These together, with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the electrically driven music box forming the subject of this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 22 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the improved electrically driven music box forming the subject of this invention includes a housing formed by a base member 12 having upstanding marginal Walls 14. The walls 14 can be joined to the base 12 in any suitable manner.

A cover is provided for the housing 10 and this cover comprises a rectangular frame 16 having a central inset of foraminous material 18, such as screening or the like. Hinges are provided for securing the cover to the housing 10 with one of the hinges 20 being shown in Figure 1. A suitable hasp 22 is also provided on the cover for engagement with one of the marginal walls 14 for retaining the cover in closed position on the housing 10.

Secured to the base member 12 in one corner thereof is a block 24. Mounted on the block 24 is a frame 26 having an upstanding projection 28 thereon. Mounted on the frame 26 are a plurality of musical projections 30. Suitable fasteners may be utilized for securing the frame 26 to the block 24 and suitable fasteners 34 may be utilized for securing the musical projections to the frame 26.

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Also mounted within the housing 10 is a suitable electric motor 36 having a shaft 38 extending therefrom and overlying the frame 26. The free end of the shaft 38 is rotatably supported in the upstanding projection 28 on the frame 26. A pair of angle shaped brackets 40 are secured to the motor 36 by means of conventional fasteners 42 and the brackets 40 are adapted to be secured to one of the side walls 14 by means of suitable fasteners 44. Thus, it will be seen that the motor 36 is rigidly mounted within the housing 10 with the shaft 38 in overlying relationship to the frame 26.

Fixedly secured to the shaft 38 for rotation therewith is a conventional pin roll 46 having a plurality of projections 48 extending therefrom so as to engage the musical projections 30. The pins 48 are spaced so that as the pin roll 46 rotates the musical projections 30 will be engaged by the pins 48 to play a tune.

The motor 36 is provided with conventional contacts 50 to which are attached the lead wires 52 of a conventional electrical conductor 54. The other end of the electrical conductor 54 is provided with a conventional plug 56 having prongs 58 for insertion into a conventional wall receptacle. The conductor 54 passes through one of the side walls 14 and is provided with a grommet 60 for retaining the same in position.

In practical use of the device, the plug 56 is connected to a suitable electrical receptacle and the motor 36 will then be actuated. Rotation of the shaft 38 will cause the pin roll 46 to rotate, whereby the pins 48 will engage the projections 30. The frame 26 will act as a sounding board and a musical tune will be played. To stop the device, it is merely necessary to remove the plug from the receptacle. Thus, it will be seen that when the music box is used for serenading a child to put him to sleep, it will not be necessary to reset the device after it has played for a certain period but that the box will have continuous operation, with the tone of the music remaining the same throughout the operation.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

An electrically driven music box comprising a housing having an open top, a cover pivotally mounted on said housing for selectively closing the same, a frame mounted in said housing, a plurality of musical projections mounted on said frame, a pin roll disposed within said housing and engageable with said projections, an electric motor mounted in said housing, said electric motor having a driving shaft extending therefrom, said pin roll being fixedly secured to said drive shaft for rotation therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,881,299 Savidge Oct. 4, 1932 

